Willow whistles, for the uninitiated, are basic whistles created from the soft green branches of weeping willow trees. Armed with a pocket knife, you’ll find their construction a straight-forward affair. As this editor can attest, after a few practice runs, you’ll be a pro. Check out the video below to learn how to make a willow whistle and see a few different ones in action:

We’ll add extra emphasis on selecting very green and new growth branches—while old willow branches might be prized by florists for their curly and beautiful appearance, they make for poor raw material for your whistle. If you’ve been dying to share a trick for making some old-school toys but never had the right moment to share (you poor soul), now’s your time to shine in the comments below. The Legendary Willow Whistle [via Make]